I've been wanting to read YOU SLAY ME, the first in the Aisling Grey, Guardian Series, for quite awhile, and was supremely happy when it reared it's head in my never-ending "to-be-read" pile. And I'm so glad I did! Aisling, on her first outing as a courier for her uncle's business, has traveled to Paris to deliver an aquamanile-- unfortunately, the Madame who was supposed to be purchasing it ends up being dead, in the same apartment Aisling has just entered. And merde! if that wasn't bad enough, there's another visitor to the deceased's apartment--a very handsome, sexy, irritating man who introduces himself as Drake Vireo. Questioned by the local authorities and then released, Aisling is dismayed to find facts being thrown at her fast and furiously--demons, which she had always been interested in studying and reading about, are real; there is an entire Otherworld filled with mages, a Venediger, Wiccans, imps, dragons, and all sorts of other characters; some practicing in dark magic, others in white. Oh, and the fact that she's a Guardian? Everyone keeps telling her she is, although she has no clue as to what they're talking about. They tell her she's a Keeper of the Gates of Hell, but instead Aisling is pretty sure she's walked into a version of Hell right there in Paris. Oh, and Drake, that handsome, sexy stranger in the dead woman's apartment? He's a dragon--a green dragon, wyvern leader of his sept, and Aisling is his mate. And that demon, Effrijim, that she summoned in a moment of need? He's a displaced demon whose been outcast by his Lord, has taken the form of a black Newfoundland, and likes to eat horse meat, pee on bushes, suck on the ears of a Corgi, and sing "Elvira". This is by far one of the most interesting paranormal romance series I've read lately. Hilarious dialogue, sizzling passion between Aisling and Drake, and the way Aisling comes into her own with regards to her powers makes this book a definite winner. What steals the show, though, is Jim. The demon-dog has the best lines in the book, and had me laughing out loud so many times that I finally lost count. I sincerely hope that Ms. MacAlister continues to make use of this awesome original character in the upcoming books. **I have to note (yes, probably sarcastically, but I can't help myself!) that if anyone chewed on their bottom lip as much as Aisling does, they'd have nothing for lips but bloody strips of skin. If you can put that aside, however, you'll do just fine.
Aisling Grey, the heroine of this series, is a ditz. She's also a Guardian and a wyvern's mate. Don't worry if you don't know what that means--Aisling doesn't either. Generally speaking, I can't stand ditzes. But every once in awhile one crosses my path who I can't help but love. I had a very lovable ditzy friend in college. And another nice ditz is dating someone I know (and hopefully he marries her someday). From a bookish standpoint, Bridget Jones is another fantastic ditz. And if you've read and enjoyed Karen Marie Moning's Fever Series, you probably love that ditzy MacKayla Lane just as much as I do. Aisling Grey is also a lovable ditz.And the fact that she has no idea WTF is going on works extremely well for the first novel in this series where demons, mages and dragons who look like incredibly sexy human men are a fact of life. So the reader learns about this world at the same time as the main character (a wyvern is a dragon and a Guardian guards a portal to hell, among other things, by the way...) Aisling is 31-years-old, newly divorced, strapped for cash and working as a courier for her uncle's company, which deals in rare artifacts. Her first assignment is to deliver a dragon statue to an eccentric woman in Paris. But when Aisling arrives at the woman's house, she discovers that her contact has been murdered in a bizarre demon ritual. And as if that wasn't bad enough, the priceless dragon statue was stolen by a handsome man. Aisling then hits a very slippery slope downwards into the Otherworld of Paris, finds out she's now a murder suspect and conjures her first demon. I'm glad this was the first book in a series and I'm very much looking forward to Aisling's antics in the following books!
What do You think about You Slay Me (2004)?
This is about a woman named Aisling who, as a courier, goes to Paris to deliver a precious artifact for her uncle and ends up finding out she has special powers, is a Guardian, a wyvern's (dragon's) mate, and gets hilariously involved in a murder mystery with the city's supernatural and magical citizens. This book was really funny, and Katie MacAlister's writing style is right up my alley. Drake Vireo (an immortal green dragon in the form of one smokin' hot male) is one of the better male romantic interests I've come across in awhile, although I personally thought his role in this first book was a little too ambiguous. It makes sense as a teaser for the next book, though. This is a fun book for those who like light-hearted funny chick-lit.
—Sh3lly (Not all those who wander are lost)
I'd heard such good things about this author and about this series, but I have to say, I was not charmed at all. Sure, there were moments of humour and for the most part the story was well-paced, but there were so many holes in the plot and more importantly, I just wasn't a big fan of the hero and heroine.First, for an almost 40 y.o heroine, Ashling Grey was an idiot - albeit one who apparently researched demon lore just for fun. So maybe not a complete idiot, just a bimbo who by all rights should be dead from all the dangerous situations she stupidly kept putting herself into... As for Drake, to me he just came across as a smug, arrogant, sexy thief who was smoking hot (literally).I wont rush out to read another of Kate McAlister's books, but I'll admit to being curious if it's just this one that I didn't like and maybe there are better ones of her work that I'll enjoy more.
—CaroB
Frustrating read. I like the world and the secondary characters, but I hated the heroine and did not enjoy continually watching her make a complete ass of herself.That sort of thing can be funny, a la the Pink Panther movies, but it requires the author to stick to it. I can't be expected to point and laugh at the boob at one point and then take her seriously at another. I think the first person narrative was also inappropriate. If I'm supposed to connect with her, don't make her an utter fool. Rather than laugh with her, I was cringing and skimming ahead.Also, for something billed as "paranormal romance," it lacked romance. Aisling scarcely interacts with Drake in the book. There's no connection between them beyond the lazy Fated Mate trope.
—Ridley
